POCSO 22Chapter V · Procedure for Reporting of Cases
Section 22 · Punishment for false complaint or false information
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(1) Any person, who makes false
complaint or provides false information against any person, in respect of an offence committed under
sections 3, 5, 7 and section 9, solely with the intention to humiliate, extort or threaten or defame him,
shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine or with both.
(2) Where a false complaint has been made or false information has been provided by a child, no punishment shall be imposed on such child.
(3) Whoever, not being a child, makes a false complaint or provides false information against a child, knowing it to be false, thereby victimizing such child in any of the offences under this Act, shall be punished with imprisonment, which may extend to one year or with fine or with both.
(2) Where a false complaint has been made or false information has been provided by a child, no punishment shall be imposed on such child.
(3) Whoever, not being a child, makes a false complaint or provides false information against a child, knowing it to be false, thereby victimizing such child in any of the offences under this Act, shall be punished with imprisonment, which may extend to one year or with fine or with both.
The offence at a glance
- Maximum punishment
- 1 year
- Fine
- Fine — no statutory ceiling, the court decides
- Cognizable
- Non-cognizable
- Bailable
- Bailable
- Compoundable
- Not compoundable
- Triable by
- Special court
- Non-cognizable — Police cannot investigate without a Magistrate's order
- Bailable — Bail is your right — it can be granted at the police station
Sub-sections of this section carry different penalties; the maximum is shown.
Under this Act's own provision
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